Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley said her top rival, former President Donald Trump, is “fit” to serve again but isn’t the “right” person for the job at this time.
Haley, a former South Carolina governor who served as Trump’s United Nations ambassador, sought to strike a balance when talking about her former boss during a recent interview with ABC News that will be broadcast on Monday.
“It’s not about fitness. I think he’s fit to be president. It’s ‘Should he be president?’ I don’t think he should be president. I thought he was the right president at the right time,” Haley said.
“We’ve got to look at the issues that we’re dealing with, coming forward with new solutions, not focusing on negativity and baggage of the past,” Haley added. “So it’s not about being fit. It’s just I don’t think he’s the right person to be president.”
Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie tackled the same question during the fourth GOP presidential debate last week, claiming the other participants — including Haley — were “afraid to offend” Trump. Trump later fired back, saying Christie is “not fit” to run for the presidency.
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ABC News noted that Trump has also been critical of Haley for how she has broken with him at times and voiced support for him at other junctures.
“Well, every time she criticizes me, she uncriticizes me about 15 minutes later,” Trump told Vanity Fair in 2021. “I guess she gets the base.”
Haley, who is virtually tied with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis for second place behind Trump in polling, contended that her views have nothing to do with loyalty but rather her honest opinions.
“You know, anti-Trumpers don’t think I hate him enough and pro-Trumpers don’t think I love him enough. I call it like I see it,” she said.
“I’m not going to be 100% with him. I’m not going to be 100% against him. It’s not personal for me. This is about what’s right for the country,” Haley added. “This is about how we’re going to lead. This is about the direction we should go. It’s not about the personal thoughts of an individual. It’s about the fact that we have a country to save.”